I'm looking for advice on how to remove the wheelchair lift from my shuttle bus. The wheelchair lift is on the passenger side, across from the driver. The bus is a partially converted '96 e350 with a 7.3 liter powerstroke. What I'm wondering is if anybody has any advice for the best way to go about this. I found several posts relating to removing a lift, but as quite a few people have done this, I was hoping for some additional input. Specifically:

1. How much does the average wheel chair lift weigh? I don't have the model number right now and the van is about an hour and a half away from me -- long story -- but I'm just looking for a general idea here; 100 pounds, 200, 300, more?

2. What is the best way to go about removing one of these behemoths? Will removing it interfer with any other functions in the van?

3. How, in general, do you operate one of these things? I'm sure I could figure it out with a little experimentation, but it be great to have something to go on.

If the model and brand of the lift would help in getting specific how-to tips, I'll be able to look for that when I visit the bus location soon.

My guess is that a lift weighs more like 300-400 lbs. The method I ended up using to get the lift out was to back my pickup truck up to the side door of the bus and use short 2x10 ramps to go from the bus to the truck. Once I got the lift on the bed of the truck I took it to the metal recycling yard and just pushed it off the back. It took 3 guys to load it from the bus to the truck though.

You can look up the brand online, model etc. Ours was 430lbs.
We lacked the tools to remove it so offered it for free on Craigslist to whoever can safely remove it using their own tools and manpower. Took two weight lifters some serious work to manuaver it out the lift door.

Thanks for the replies. I'm going to be going by the bus today, so I'll pick up the model number, etc., and try to go from there. I might post it up on the forum too, if I can't find anything online.

Ascend:

Thanks for the input. I was thinking of putting a shower area in where the lift is now, but I might reconsider using them as my main door.

Diesel Dan:

Okay, that's kind of what I was thinking. I was also considering trying to lift it up with a chain hoist or something and just swing it into the truck, but if it really weighs 400+ pounds I'm not sure if I want to trust a tree branch with that much weight.

Seeria:

430lbs? Yikes...oh well, maybe mine is lighter. Not a bad idea about craigslist; I'll keep that in mind.

Well, I got the product number off my lift, which is a Braun. After some googling, I found both a service/installation manual and a user manual. Both were on Braun's site, though it took Google to dig them up, as Braun's site is not very well organized.

They have both pdf and html versions available. I haven't looked through them extensively, but I did look for the weight of my lift under specifications...452lbs.

Dirtygoat:

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Be very careful, someone could get badly hurt... The weight of it will cut off fingers...

Ya, I'm kinda attached to my fingers...literally. I'll definitely be careful if I do take this thing out. Thanks for the input.

Ascend:

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You could look into renting an engine hoist from a local auto store.

I actually have a hand powered chain lift that I've used before to pull my 6000lb bronco out of some nasty mudholes. It is intended to be an engiene hoist, so I'm sure it could handle the wheelchair lift if I go through with removing it. I'm more concerned about finding a good stout tree branch that will support around 500+ pounds.

For my lift I had to flip on the breaker for it, once it was running I lowered to ground as if I was going to pick up a wheelchair with it, once that was done I unhooled the wiring and unbolted it from the floor, it would not fit out the door straight on so I had to kinda shift it alittle to the right or left. Then I nearly removed my fingers when got the thing all the way out. BE VERY CAREFUL>>>> I sold mine on craigslist for 700.00, so clean yours up and perhaps you too could sell it.

... I sold mine on craigslist for 700.00, so clean yours up and perhaps you too could sell it.

Aw man, you're killin' me! I had my lift on craigslist forever, with the price continually dropping and could not find a buyer for even $200. Finally had to sell it to a scrap yard for the pitful sum of $27.